Improved darning-last



UNITED STATES PATENT OEE-IcE.

GEORGE H. BABCOCK, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVED DARNING-LAST.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,199, dated September 25, 1866 antedated September 15, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. BABGOCK, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a certain new and useful Darning-Last, intended to assist in the darning of stockings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is aplan, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the same open.

I make my last of papier-mache, hard rubber, thin metal, or other suitable substance, in the form shown in the drawings, hollow and in two parts, hinged together as represented, so as to form a boX for holding needles or yarn, or for any other purpose desired. The exterior is in the .form of a last, but rather more chubby than ordinarylasts of that length, and is made very smooth and without salient angles, the surface being sufficiently hard to resist the point of the needle.

My improved last is to be used b'y placing V it within the stocking to distend that portion which requires to be darned, and hold it in proper shape, so that the darning may not distort the form ofthe stocking.

As stockings are ordinarily darned the hand is placed inside the stocking to distend it. This causes an unnatural form to be given to the stocking, andas a consequence the da rued portion brings an unequal strain upon the adjacent parts when in use, thus causing them to sooner give way and require mending.

An ordinary wooden last has been used for this purpose, but its weightisvso serious an inp in which case it requires to be moved therein until it coincides with the portion requiring mending. Being made hollow and in the form of a box, it serves as a receptacle for the needles7 yarn, 85e., thereby retaining the several materials andntensils together, convenient for use, and when so employed forms a very useful adjunct to a ladys Work-basket.

The size, form, and proportions shown may be varied within proper limits; but I prefer the form represented in the drawings. The boX form allows it to be made serviceable in other ways without interfering with its usefulness for that purpose, and is the best form ofthe article.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a light smooth last or partial last in the form of a box, substantially as described, and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name.

G. H. BABCOGK.

Witnesses:

S. WILcoX, Jr., H. M. BABcocK. 

